Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Shout Out to Dad

Quickly, before I squander my nap-time freedom-

Can you imagine what missionaries of yesteryear went through? Man, it is crazy to think of how lonely they might have felt. No phones, no faxes, no email. No contact with the United States. Even when our internet phone is cruddy, I still know in less than a day or two I will get a good connection. I cannot imagine waiting weeks or months for a letter to arrive to my mom if I wanted to tell her something. Today my sister had an ultrasound, and I will find out how it went about ten minutes after she gets home. No waiting four weeks for her letter.

I have a fear (irrational or not) that the generator will give up and it will leave us without power. My fear is based more on not having internet than not having lights. I can light candles. Modern technology saves me from missing my friends and family more than I do. If the blog ever goes quiet for more than a day or two ... you'll know my fears have been realized.

We showed Pastor Rony the webcam a few weeks ago. He saw my friend Kris in Illinois. She saw him in Haiti. He thought it was very odd. We think it is amazing.

We really don't know how the people who were here, and around the world, serving 50 years ago ever got by. They were the real deal.

Now, for my shout out. My Dad is in the Ukraine working on a short term mission team. He checks email and the blog from there. Crazy to think about. HI DADDY --- we are praying for you. Stay healthy and get rest. We love you SO much.

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Who we are...

To Reach Us: Livesayfamily@gmail.com - We live, learn, love, & work and sometimes go slowly crazy in Port au Prince, Haiti. In the 13+ years we've been here, one thing we've learned: God is not made manifest in our ability to "fix" or heal, but in our need to be healed. Recognizing this weakness leaves us in a position of having little to offer. It reveals our own need to be restored to wholeness. We are not fixers of people or countries or things. We are here trying to extend empathy, love and grace to others, the way it has been extended to us.

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships - so that we may live deep within our hearts. May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people - so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war - so that we may reach out our hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in the world - so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor. Amen. (Franciscan Benediction)

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